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The Law Of Kindness Ephesians 4:32 I. What Is Kindness?

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Page 1: The Law Of Kindness Ephesians 4:32 I. What Is Kindness?
Page 2: The Law Of Kindness Ephesians 4:32 I. What Is Kindness?

The Law Of KindnessThe Law Of Kindness

Ephesians 4:32

Page 3: The Law Of Kindness Ephesians 4:32 I. What Is Kindness?

I. What Is Kindness?

Page 4: The Law Of Kindness Ephesians 4:32 I. What Is Kindness?

1Originally: “good quality” of things

• ‘Fine’ gold: Dn.2:32

• ‘Well-conditioned’ yoke: Mt.11:30

Justin Martyr (d. A.D. 165):

as a carpenter, Jesus used to make plows and yokes for oxen.

His kindness reached beyond animals. His kindness reached beyond animals.

Justin Martyr (d. A.D. 165):

as a carpenter, Jesus used to make plows and yokes for oxen.

His kindness reached beyond animals. His kindness reached beyond animals.

Page 5: The Law Of Kindness Ephesians 4:32 I. What Is Kindness?

1Originally: “good quality” of things

• ‘Fine’ gold: Dn.2:32

• ‘Well-conditioned’ yoke: Mt.11:30

• Wine that is ‘mild’ and ‘sweet’: Lk.5:39

Some food does not ‘agreeagree’ with usSome food does not ‘agreeagree’ with us

Page 6: The Law Of Kindness Ephesians 4:32 I. What Is Kindness?

2Divine attribute

• Ps.100:5

• Lk.6:35

• 1 Pt.2:3

Benevolent, favorable, merciful

Kind: useful, good, gracious

Unthankful… Lk.17:17

Page 7: The Law Of Kindness Ephesians 4:32 I. What Is Kindness?

3Attribute of princes & rulers

And he spoke kindly to him and gave him a more prominent seat than those of the kings who were

with him in Babylon – Jer.52:32

And he spoke kindly to him and gave him a more prominent seat than those of the kings who were

with him in Babylon – Jer.52:32

Evil-Merodach and Jehoiachin

Page 8: The Law Of Kindness Ephesians 4:32 I. What Is Kindness?

4Virtue of honest people

• Behaves properly; honest, good morals

• 1 Co.15:33, ‘good’ morals

• NT: describes virtue of –

– Apostles, 2 Co.6:6

– All Christians, Ga.5:22

KINDNESS IS MOST COMMON VIRTUE MENTIONED ON

ANCIENT TOMB INSCRIPTIONS

KINDNESS IS MOST COMMON VIRTUE MENTIONED ON

ANCIENT TOMB INSCRIPTIONS

Page 9: The Law Of Kindness Ephesians 4:32 I. What Is Kindness?

4Virtue of honest people

“Kindness or sweetness …means both – is a mild, tender, tranquil virtue, prepared to

share its goods; it invites to friendship; it is sweet in its speech, moderate in its morals.

Stoics define it as a virtue spontaneously disposed to doing good. Goodness proper is not far removed from kindness…but it differs in that goodness can be a bit somber, frown-ing in moral austerity, no doubt doing good

and giving what is asked but w/o being sweet and w/o attracting people by its mildness”

“Kindness or sweetness …means both – is a mild, tender, tranquil virtue, prepared to

share its goods; it invites to friendship; it is sweet in its speech, moderate in its morals.

Stoics define it as a virtue spontaneously disposed to doing good. Goodness proper is not far removed from kindness…but it differs in that goodness can be a bit somber, frown-ing in moral austerity, no doubt doing good

and giving what is asked but w/o being sweet and w/o attracting people by its mildness”

Page 10: The Law Of Kindness Ephesians 4:32 I. What Is Kindness?

5Expression of love

• 1 Co.13:4

– Kindness, sweetness

– No kindness, no love

Page 11: The Law Of Kindness Ephesians 4:32 I. What Is Kindness?

I. What Is Kindness?

II. What Accompanies Kindness?

Page 12: The Law Of Kindness Ephesians 4:32 I. What Is Kindness?

1Calm emotions during provocation

1. Goodness: kindness

2. Longsuffering: long-tempered; patient w. people

3. Forbearance: to be patient with, in the sense of enduring possible difficulty

Or do you despise the riches of His good-ness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads

you to repentance? – Ro.2:4

Or do you despise the riches of His good-ness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads

you to repentance? – Ro.2:4

Page 13: The Law Of Kindness Ephesians 4:32 I. What Is Kindness?

1Calm Emotions During Provocation2Charity

But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared…

– Tit.3:4

But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared…

– Tit.3:4

1. Love of God toward man: “philanthropy”

2. Cyrus & Croesus / Jews

Page 14: The Law Of Kindness Ephesians 4:32 I. What Is Kindness?

1Calm emotions during provocation2Charity

3Consistency

• Present tense; command

• Our example: God in Christ . . .

– Not on again, off again

And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even

as God in Christ forgave you. – Ep.4:32

And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even

as God in Christ forgave you. – Ep.4:32

Page 15: The Law Of Kindness Ephesians 4:32 I. What Is Kindness?

Simon, Jesus, and the woman (Lk.7)

Simon

KIND

His ownLk.6:32

JesusWoman KIND

But lovelove your enemies, do gooddo good, and lendlend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be

great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kindkind to the

unthankful and evil – Lk.6:35

Page 16: The Law Of Kindness Ephesians 4:32 I. What Is Kindness?

Love of Christians amazed pagans

• “Behold, how they love one another”

• Kindness was largely the character of Jesus’ ministry

– Tertullian:

‘Christus’ became ‘ChrestusChrestus,’and ‘Christiani’ ‘ChrestianiChrestiani’

(‘made up of mildness or kindness’(‘made up of mildness or kindness’)

‘Christus’ became ‘ChrestusChrestus,’and ‘Christiani’ ‘ChrestianiChrestiani’

(‘made up of mildness or kindness’(‘made up of mildness or kindness’)

Page 17: The Law Of Kindness Ephesians 4:32 I. What Is Kindness?

I. What Is Kindness?

III. Who Needs Kindness?

II. What Accompanies Kindness?

Page 18: The Law Of Kindness Ephesians 4:32 I. What Is Kindness?

1. SocietySociety

• Lk.10

– Enemies no more

• ““Don’t wait for people to be kind; show Don’t wait for people to be kind; show them how” them how”

“Kindness is the language that the blind can see & the deaf can hear” “Kindness is the language that the blind can see & the deaf can hear”

Page 19: The Law Of Kindness Ephesians 4:32 I. What Is Kindness?

1. Society

2. FamilyFamily

• Prov.31:26

• DevotedDevoted love as of GodGod to Naomi, Ru.2:20

• DevotedDevoted love as of RuthRuth to Boaz (Ru.3:10)

– Husbands / wives. Ps.52:2

– Parents / children. Col.3:21

““denotes love showing itself in denotes love showing itself in kindness & gracefulness” kindness & gracefulness”

““denotes love showing itself in denotes love showing itself in kindness & gracefulness” kindness & gracefulness”

‘…the law of kindness…’

Page 20: The Law Of Kindness Ephesians 4:32 I. What Is Kindness?

1. Society2. Family

3. FriendsFriends• Lk.15, false friends

• David, down and out (2 Sm.15-16)

– “What he deserves” (Shimei)

– “What I deserve” (Absalom)

– Friends:

Barzillai:Food,

support

Barzillai:Food,

support

Hushai:Emotional

support

Hushai:Emotional

support

Ittai:15:18-23;

18:2

Ittai:15:18-23;

18:2

1. Newcomer2. David is down

3. Dangers

Page 21: The Law Of Kindness Ephesians 4:32 I. What Is Kindness?

1. Society2. Family3. Friends

4. ChurchChurch• Ep.4:31-32.

• Ja.4:1-3

AnimosityAnimosity RageRage

ResentmentResentment ThreatsThreats

SlanderSlander MaliceMalice

Kindness removes . . .Kindness removes . . .

Page 22: The Law Of Kindness Ephesians 4:32 I. What Is Kindness?

1. Society2. Family3. Friends4. Church

5. LostLost• Ep.2:7• Tit.3:4

• Jn.8:1-11

• Col.3:12

Gn.1:26-27, imageEp.5:1Ep.5:1, imitation

Gn.1:26-27, imageEp.5:1Ep.5:1, imitation

He cannot overlook her evil.He can be kind (unlike Phar.)He cannot overlook her evil.He can be kind (unlike Phar.)

Being clothed does not just ‘happen’

Being clothed does not just ‘happen’

Page 23: The Law Of Kindness Ephesians 4:32 I. What Is Kindness?

The last word• Gal.6:7-8

• Gal.6:10

“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted” – Aesop

“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted” – Aesop

“I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good, therefore, that I

can do or any kindness that I can show to a fellow creature, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it

for I shall never pass this way again.”

“I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good, therefore, that I

can do or any kindness that I can show to a fellow creature, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it

for I shall never pass this way again.”

Page 24: The Law Of Kindness Ephesians 4:32 I. What Is Kindness?